Friday Finds: Last Minute Trip Tips + Great Deals

If you are looking for CBS The Talk’s Friday Finds, here is the link. I am not affiliated with CBS or The Talk, but I want to give you the info. Please enjoy this post while you are here!

So… I am headed to Miami with some of my college besties this weekend. That’s the good news. The weather is looking less than ideal. That’s the bad news. That said, we will enjoy the company and relaxation no matter what. We wound up booking with American Express points, but I found great deals with some of my fave travel deal sites/apps, too. So I will share those with you for your next trip!

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This is the bad news. From Weather Line app

I read about Stayful in Travel and Leisure and told you about it a month or so agao. This new site and app are like a Priceline bidding service for boutique hotels. They say, “If you’re traveling soon and are ready to book, simply make an offer of the rate you want to pay and we’ll negotiate on your behalf with the hotel.” Stayful is the first hotel service focused on independent, boutique hotels with a unique bidding system. Their system gathers unique pricing data when you search and assists you in bidding. You can make reservations up to 30 days in advance. Why do the hotels do this? They an upcoming stay from a new guest for a room that may have otherwise remain unoccupied. Another win-win!

They will also help you find a room if you tweet them your needs! How cool is that?
They will also help you find a room if you tweet them your needs! How cool is that?

If you tweet them at via @stayful #tweetstay, they will help you get the best deal. How cool is that? I tweeted them to ask about spa trips for the ladies (they recommended Miami) and then Charleston (another option) and they sent me suggestions. Loved it! Sign up for Stayful (free), you get $25 credit to use just for signing up. You can then refer friends and earn $100 for 10 friends signing up and more. The site is free. If you want to check it out, please use this link so I can get some credit, too. Another win-win!


travel pony logoNot a last minute traveler or need to stay with a longer time horizon? Try Travel Pony. Travel Pony is a hotel booking website with everyday prices that are often 10-70% below the big travel sites. To use Travel Pony, you need to login via Facebook (no data/auto posting required), that “unlocks” preferred pricing and some of the best deals around on hotels. TravelPony has launched in over 20 markets with over 2,000 top hotel partners, making it one of the best sites to get a deal and book a hotel room.

Travel Pony relies on their customers to spread the word and creates “deals” by sharing their marketing budget back to the consumer. Some additional cool stuff: Prices on TravelPony aren’t last minute rates, they’re everyday low rates, Travel Pony shows customers every price it can find for the same hotel room on different websites and you can share your deals on social media but that is not required. Also, most bookings I have searched for have not required pre-payment/no change as some discount travel sites tend to do. We found rooms for a great price (plus an extra percentage off which is typical on TP) at the Carillon Hotel (the new owner of our beloved Canyon Ranch Miami). That was our second choice!

Want to try it? You get $35 credit on your first booking if you sign up with this link.

Please note: This is an affiliate link. I will get referral credit if you use this link, but I was not compensated for this post.

Want more of my travel tips? Check out this post and my travel posts.


It’s Friday, so here are some great deals for you to check out! Don’t forget to check ebates, Coupon Cabin and Active Junky before you buy! Also check Amex and Paypal for immediate cash back offers when you use their payment method.

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Shop all of the great mother’s day double cash back deals at ebates!
  • Get 20% off  at Shoebuy plus free shipping and free returns and get 12% cash back if you start with ebates.
  • Take $10 off any $50+ custom order at Taste Trunk using discount code: CUSTOM10
  • Get a Jawbone Up from Plum District for $55 – 58% off.
  • Get $15 off your Gluten-free subscription at Love with Food and discover the tastiest G-free snacks around. Ends 5/2.
  • Take 20% Off CW-X Condition Wear at Backcountry.com with code CWXSAVE20 + other great sales and 12% cash back if you start with Active Junky
  • Chicago runners – get $20 Fleet Feet credit when you register for the Soldier Field 10 and/or get $5 off Run10Feed10 in any city – including Chicago – with code R10AGAIN.
  • Get $225+ in seasonal finds for $49.99 from FabFitFun – box includes full-size beauty, wellness, fashion, and fitness products – 4x per year. Get FREE shipping and save $10 with code Katie10.

Ongoing Deals:

  • Check out awesome, healthy foods The FEED and get $10 coupon good when you spend $25.
  • Gilt City has awesome national and local deals. New members of Gilt City get 25% off their first purchase with this link.
  • Get awesome deals for men, women, home and travel on Rue La La.
  • Check out awesome sportwear deals at Active Gear Up. New customers get $10 off with this link.
  • Get groceries delivered in one hour from Instacart and get $10 off first order + free delivery. (Plus $5 for every friend you refer up to $25, too!)
  • Save $25 on any purchase from Kore Fit with code START15.
  • New customers, get $25 OFF your first order of custom women’s wear from eShakti.
First Box Free! Click HERE
First Box Free! Click HERE
  • One King’s Lane is having awesome limited time sales on everything you need for your home and more!
  • Get up to 50% off on hotel rooms with Travel Pony plus new users get a $35 off credit to use on hotel stays of over $200.
  • Check out a ton of great sales and coupons on all of your active gear and get cash back with Active Junky.
  • Check out awesome deals on athletic gear and trips from The Clymb. Act fast deals are up for a limited time. Start with Active Junky to get an additional 12% cash back.
  • Check out Hautelook. Hello… flash sales from Nordstom/Nordstrom Rack
  • Do you have an American Express Card? Sign up for Amex Offers for great easy to use offers. Just click and buy and your account is credited
  • Resolved to get fit? Get 50% off your first outfit at Fabletics. I LOVE mine!

I am headed to Miami. Fingers crossed for some sun and fun. How about you?

PS. Don’t forget my great giveaways!

*Please note: This post contains some affiliate/referral links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. Some are just good deals I found and shared. Either way, you win!